Salt Lake Area Historic Sites

State Capitol Building: On top of the hill at the northern end of State Street is the Utah State Capitol building, which was patterned after the nation's capitol. It was completed in 1914. A brochure is available detailing features of the building's interior and garden-like grounds. Guided tours are offered most of the year.

The Mormon (LDS) Temple and adjacent building are key historic attractions in Salt Lake City. Several other Mormon sites located in or near the city are described here. Some of our other important sites are listed below.

Council Hall: Directly across the street to the south of the State Capitol is Council Hall, home of the Utah Office of Tourism. Built in the 1860s as Salt Lake City Hall, it was dismantled brick by brick in 1963 and moved to Capitol Hill.

Marmalade District: On the western side of Capitol Hill is the Marmalade Historic District, or Fruit Tree Streets, where many original pioneer-era homes are located.

Memory Grove: Located in the mouth of City Creek Canyon, just east of the State Capitol and within walking distance of downtown Salt Lake City, Memory Grove is dedicated to Utah's war dead.

Cathedral of the Madeleine: South Temple Street is lined with many historic churches including the Rhenish Gothic-styled Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E South Temple, built in 1909, (801) 328-8941.

Presbyterian Church: A red sandstone exterior marks the First Presbyterian Church at South Temple and "C" Streets, (801) 363-3889.

Governor's Mansion: Once the most fashionable street in the city, South Temple also has numerous elegant mansions, most notably, the Kearns Mansion, 603 E South Temple. It was built in 1902 as the residence of mining magnate Thomas Kearns. It is now the official residence of Utah's Governor. A fire caused by faulty holiday lights in December of 1993 damaged much of the mansion. During renovation, the original color scheme and ornamentation were re-created. Tours are offered.

St Mark's Cathedral: One block off South Temple Street, the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 E 100 South, was built in 1871, making it Utah's oldest non-Mormon church. It is also the third oldest Episcopal cathedral in the United States.

Masonic Temple: The Salt Lake Masonic Temple offers tours inside one of the city's most intriguing historical buildings. Completed in 1927, the building is located at 650 E South Temple, Salt Lake City; 801-363-2550. Tours are Fridays at 12pm. Call ahead for guided tours.

City/County Building: The City and County Building sits on Washington Square between 400 and 500 South on State Street. The spot was an early encampment for Mormon settlers. After Utah became the nation's 45th state in 1896, this impressive building served as the State Capitol for 19 years.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral: At 279 S. 300 West, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity was built in 1923, replacing a church built during 1905, the year the Greek Community of Utah was first organized.

Eagle Gate: This 76-foot arch with a 4,000 pound eagle on top spans State Street at South Temple, marking the center of downtown Salt Lake City. Constructed in 1859, it originally served as the entrance to Brigham Young's property and led beyond that to City Creek Canyon.